SAN ANDREAS - The Calaveras County Sheriff's Department asked for the public's help Thursday in finding murder suspect James Allison Livezey, 41, of Valley Springs.

The department actually had Livezey in jail last week, but he was able to post $25,000 bail.

At the time, Livezey's alleged victim, Marvin Brown, was still alive, and so his bail was based on a battery charge.

Also Thursday, Calaveras County Coroner Kevin Raggio said that an autopsy completed earlier this week determined what killed Brown, 52, also of Valley Springs.

"He died from a fractured neck, basically. A broken neck," Raggio said.

A tragic chain of events began just before midnight June 29, when deputies were called to the Sequoia Rose Mobile Home Park in Valley Springs to break up a fight. When deputies arrived, the two men were gone.

Brown showed up about that same time at Mark Twain Saint Joseph Hospital in San Andreas. He was unconscious and his heart had stopped. Medical staff were able to restart his heart. Brown lived another five days but never regained consciousness, Raggio said.

Early on the morning of June 30, deputies found Livezey at his home in Valley Springs and arrested him on suspicion of battery with a serious injury. The next day, July 1, Livezey bailed out of jail. He was ordered to return to court on July 26 for arraignment on the battery charge.

Now that Brown is dead, Livezey faces a much more serious charge and officials are not waiting to see whether he shows up later this month.

The Sheriff's Department says it wants Livezey back and that the case is being treated as a homicide.

Investigators are asking anyone with information on Livezey's whereabouts to contact the Sheriff's Department at (209) 754-6030.